Belt gearing



March 10, 1953 o. L. GAMBILL 2,630,720

BELT GEARING Filed July 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oscar L. Gama/ll INVENTOR.

March 10, 1953 o. L. GAMBILL 2,630,720 v BELT'GEARING Filed July 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .mnannnq npnnnmgg Oscar L. Bambi/l JNVENTOR.

BY WW 3m March 10, 1953 o. L. GAMBILL BELT GEARING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1948 ms Nmk wk ww i Oscar L. Gama/ll INVENTOR. BY @522 Patented Mar. 10, 1953 BELT GEARING Oscar L. Gambill, Iola, Kans., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Gambill Mfgrs., Inc., Iola, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application July 26, 1948, Serial No. 40,681

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sectional beds such as the type used in hospitals and the like, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a bed including a pair of hinged sections and embodying novel and improved means for adjustably raising or lowering a. selected one of the sections.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable sectional bed including a power operated lifting mechanism that is conveniently actuated by a patient on the bed to adjustably raise or lower the head section or foot section of the bed to a comfortable position for a user thereof.

A further object of the present invention i to provide an attachment for hospital beds or beds having a pair of hinged sections and including a novel and improved clutch mechanism that is conveniently accessible to a person on the bed for adjustably raising or lowering a selected one of said pair of sections.

A still further aim of the present invention i to provide an adjustable sectional bed that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, efficient and durable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bed constructed in accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the lift mechanism thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 22 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bed constructed in accordance with the present invention; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 4- 3 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where in for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents a substantially rectangular bed frame that is retained in an elevated, substantially horizontal position by supporting U-shaped end frames l2.

2 Claims- (Cl. 74-722) Fixed to the longitudinal side rails M of the bed frame is and spaced above the central portion of the frame It, is a fixed central section It having a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of ears I8 that receive tongues 25 which project outwardly from the inner rails 22 and 24 of a substantially rectangular head section 25 and a substantially rectangular foot section 28. Fasteners 3E! removably secure the ears 18 to the tongues 2!! for raising and lowering pivotal movement of the sections 26 and 28 relative to the central section IS.

The present invention does not attempt to claim the above conventional structure but is merely an attachment for the same or for other such frames having one or more hinged or pivotal sections.

Heretofore, the sections 26 and 28 have been raised and lowered manually, thus making it difficult and in most instances impossible for a patient or person reclining on the bed to raise or lower the sections 26 and 28.

Therefore, the principal feature of the present invention is to provide a power operated mechanism embodying a reversible electric motor that will be conveniently accessible to a person resting upon the bed to effectively and efiiciently raise or lower a selected of the sections 26 and 23 to the comfort of the bed patient.

To accomplish the above desired results, there is provided a transverse support member 32 the ends of which are fixed to mounting brackets 33 mounted on the longitudinal side rails M of the bed frame it. The support member 32 supports a pair of dependin brace members or hanger straps 35.

A pair of spaced L'-shaped motor supporting members 36 are disposed beneath the bed frame It) and have one of their legs, for example the horizontally disposed legs 38 thereof, fixed to a cross rail it between the legs of one end frame l2 and to the lower ends of the hanger straps 34.

The vertically disposed legs of the L-shaped motor supporting members 36 are fixed to a cross strap 42 which is spaced parallel to the member 32.

Fixed to the longitudinal side rails I4, are the outer ends or legs Mi of a pair of substantially horizontally disposed angle members 46, the inner legs of which are secured to the ends of the cross strap 42.

Journaled for rotation between the cross member 32 and the cross strap 42, is a plurality of spaced paralled shafts, including a driving shaft or member 48 and a pair of driven shafts or members 59 and 52.

Removably secured to the horiczntal legs 38 of the L-shaped members 36, is a reversible electric motor 54 having a pulley 56 fixed on its reversible drive shaft 58 that is connected by an endless, preferably V-type belt Gil to a further pulley 62 that is removably secured to the driving shaft 48 so that the driving shaft 48 will be rotated by the motor 54.

Journaled for rotation on the driving shaft 48 is a pair of preferably V-type pulleys 64 and 6-6 which are connected to pulleys 68 and Iii, rotatable with the driven shafts 5E! and 52, by endless V-type pulley belts I2 and I4.

An annular clutch member or plate 16 is slidable on and rotatable with the driving shaft 48 and the opposite side faces of the clutch plate I6 are provided with diametrical recesses or slots I8 and 80 that communicate with central annular recesses 82 and 84 formed in the side faces of said clutch plate, see Figure 4.

The inner faces of the pulleys 64 and 66' are provided with central, annular projections 86 and 88 that are receivable in the recesses 82 and 84 respectively, and these projections 88 and 88 support diametrically disposed lugs or pins 98 and 92 that are positionable in the recesses 18 and 89 respectively for driving or rotating a selected one of the pulleys 64 or 5B with the shaft 43.

Suitable abutments or stops 9 3 and 95 are mounted on the driving shaft 48 to limit the sliding movement of the pulleys 64 and 5t and thus permit the clutch plate to engage a selected of the said pulleys 64 or 65.

Slidably positioned on a guide bar 9t that extends between the cross member 32 and cross strap 42, is a sleeve me which supports an actuating member I02 having a bifurcated free end portion I04 that engages an annular recess I86 provided in the clutch plate 16.

Rotatably carried by the longitudinal side rails I4, is a transverse operating rod or lever I08 having an angulated end portion III} that supports a hand grip IIZ which is disposed adjacent the central section of the bed frame Iii. The rod I08 is provided with a lateral rojection II4 that is pivoted to one end of a longitudinal actuating lever or bar IIG which is slidably disposed in suitable apertures provided in the cross strap 42 and the upper end of one of the memhers 36. The free end of the bar H6 is suitably pivoted to the actuating member Hi2, so that as the grip H2 is rotated in one direction, the rod H6 will be pulled toward the rod m3 to engage the pin 92 of the pulley 66 with the recess Sit in the clutch plate it, and as the hand grip H2 is rotated in an opposite direction, the rod I IE will be pushed away from the bar m8 and the pin 96 of the pulley its will be received in the recess I8 of the clutch plate.

Suitably fixed on each of the driven shafts 5i and 52 is a stationary friction clutch plate H8 having a friction facing I20 that engages a sliding friction clutch plate I22. A tension spring I24 embraces each driven shaft to and 52 and normally urges the sliding clutch plates I22 into frictional engagement with the facings I26.

J ournaled for rotation between the outer legs 4:1 of the angle members Q8 and the cross member 32, is a pair of auxiliary shafts I26 and I28 that support pulleys ISEl and I32 which are connected by V-type pulley belts E3 4 and fist to annular, V-grooves provided in the sliding clutch plates I 22 on the respective shafts 59 and 52.

The inner ends of the auxiliary shafts I26 and 28 terminate in sockets I33 and I40 that receive spherical ends I42 and I44 of a pair of oppositely threaded worms I46 and I48. It being understood, that the spherical ends I42 and I44 are mounted in the sockets I38 and I40 for universal movement but secured to the sockets for rotation therewith.

Depending from one side of the foot section 28 and the opposite side of the head section 26, is a pair of rigid arms I51! and I52 respectively, that are pivoted to rearwardly extending lifting bars or actuating tubes I55 and I56 having internally threaded sockets that receivably engage the worms Hit and I48.

A. switch IE8 is mounted on one side rail of the main frame it adjacent the hand grip H2 and includes three push buttons I89, I62 and I64 which control the motor 54.

The switch I58 is of the conventional type used for reversible electric meters 54 and the buttons ifit, I52 and lii i are used for rotating the drive shaft 56 in one direction, placing the drive shaft in a neutral position, against rotation, and for rotating the drive shaft 53 in an opposite di= rection.

In practical use of the present invention, the foot section 2% is raised or lowered by pressing either the button or IM with the clutch plate engaged with the pulley t4, and the head section is raised or lowered by pressing either the button it?! or IE with the clutch plate '56 engaged with the pulley 66.

As shown by directional arrows in Figure 1, when the button I5l is depressed the driving shaft will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and likewise the shaft I2ii, when the clutch plate is engaged with the pulley 8G, to feed the worm I46 into the lifting bar IE and raise the foot section 28. When the button IE4 is depressed, the drive shaft 58 will rotate the driving member in a clockwise direction. and the shaft I26 will also be rotated in a clockwise direction to move the worm i lii outwardly from the lift bar I54 and the foot section 28 will be lowered.

As the drive shaft 58 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the driven shaft 52 and auxil iary shait I23 will also rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, with the clutch plate 36 engaged with the pulley fit, and the worm I48 will be moved outwardly from the lift bar I55 to push the head section '25 upwardly. When the button I64 is depressed, the drive shaft 58, driven shaft 52 and auxiliary shaft 522 will rotate in a clockwise direction to feed the worm 543 into the lift bar I55 and lowered the head section.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A raising and lowering mechanism comprising a pair of horizontally disposed spaced back to back angle members, a cross-strap joining one end of one member to one end of the other member, said angle members including a pair of coaxial arms, a transverse support member spaced from and extending alongside of said arms, mounting brackets connecting the arms to the ends of the support member, L-shaped supporting members fixed to and depending from cross-strap and including horizontal portions underlying said angle members, hanger straps terminally secured to said horizontal portions and said support member, a raising and lowering means carried by each of arms and the ends of said support member, an operating mechanism carried by said cross-strap and said support member and operatively connected to said means, and a motor mounted on the horizontal portions of said L-shaped supporting members and operatively connected to said mechanism.

2. A raising and lowering mechanism compris ing an elongated open frame having a pair of coaxial longitudinal projections at its ends, brackets forming the outer extremities of said projections and adapted to be secured to a supporting structure, a pair of spaced parallel shafts rotatably supported by said frame and extending transversely of the frame, a main driven shaft also rotatably supported by the frame and extend ing transversely of the frame and located between the pair of shafts, hanger members depending from the frame, a motor supported by said hanger members and connected to the main driven shaft for rotating the latter, a driven member carried by each of said projections, one of said driven members being operatively connected to one of said pair of shafts and the other of said driven members being operatively connected to the other of said pair of shafts, a pair of pulleys journaled on said main driven shaft, one of said pulleys being operatively connected to one of said pair of shafts and the other of said pulleys being operatively connected to the other of said pair of shafts, a clutch collar keyed on said main driven shaft between said pulleys for selectively engaging the pulleys, a rod fixed to the frame alongside of and parallel to the main driven shaft, a sleeve slidably received on said rod, a rigid actuating member fixed to the sleeve and having a bifurcated end engaging the clutch collar, and an operating bar slidably carried by the frame and having an end pivotally secured to the actuating member.

OSCAR L. GAMBILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 883,014 Hampton Mar. 24, 1908 930,136 Jordan Aug. 3, 1999 2,096,660 Vander Wonde July 2, 1335 2,288,254 Rich et a1. June 30, 1942 2,317,336 Adams et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,349,701 Buttikofer et a1. May 23, 1944 2,438,175 Lancaster Mar. 23, 1948 

